Your child can get a tooth fixed without dreading the next visit

Baby teeth do much more than hold a place for permanent teeth. They help children eat comfortably, speak clearly, and guide their adult teeth into the correct positions.

What many parents don’t realize is that some baby teeth stay in the mouth until age 11 or 12, especially the back molars. If your child is only 5 years old, that tooth may still be needed for another 6 to 7 years.

Leaving a cavity untreated for that long can lead to worsening decay, pain, infection, difficulty eating, and disrupted sleep. In some cases, infection can also affect the developing permanent tooth underneath.

Losing a baby tooth too early can create additional problems, as neighbouring teeth may shift into the empty space, leaving less room for the permanent tooth to erupt properly.

Our goal is to keep baby teeth healthy, comfortable, and functioning until they are naturally ready to fall out. Treating cavities early can prevent bigger problems and help protect your child’s developing smile.

When a cavity is small, a filling is often all that is needed. However, when decay is extensive and a significant portion of the tooth has been weakened, a filling may not provide enough strength or protection to last.

A dental crown covers and protects the entire tooth, providing a stronger, longer-lasting restoration. For deep cavities that have reached the nerve, additional treatment, such as a baby tooth nerve treatment (pulpotomy or pulpectomy), may also be necessary. In these situations, a crown is often recommended to provide a better seal, protect the remaining tooth structure, and reduce the risk of future complications.

At Children’s Dental Health Centre, we offer different crown options, including:

Stainless steel crowns: strong, durable, and highly reliable, especially for back baby teeth.

White zirconia crowns: a natural-looking, tooth-coloured alternative available for both front and back teeth, depending on the tooth’s condition and your child’s needs.

Our goal is to provide a restoration that lasts until the baby tooth naturally falls out, minimizing the chance of repeated dental treatment and helping your child maintain a healthy, comfortable smile.

Our pediatric dentists will explain the available options and recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your child’s dental needs, comfort, and your family’s preferences.

Usually not. Most restorative treatment is done in an ordinary appointment with freezing, and many children manage it fine. Nitrous oxide takes the edge off for a child who is nervous. General anesthesia is for children who need a lot of work done, who are too young to cooperate for long, or for whom repeated distressing attempts are doing more harm than the treatment would. You will be told honestly which group your child is in.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a simple, non-invasive treatment that can help stop tooth decay from progressing without drilling or freezing. It is a liquid carefully applied to the decayed area of a tooth, making it particularly helpful for very young children, children who are anxious about dental treatment, or those waiting for more definitive care under general anesthesia.

However, SDF is not suitable for every cavity. Its effectiveness depends on the size, depth, and location of the decay.

Small to moderate cavities: SDF can help arrest decay when the affected area is accessible and the cavity has not reached the nerve.

Deep cavities: SDF has limitations in how deeply it can penetrate. When decay extends close to or into the nerve, other treatments may be necessary.

Cavities between teeth: SDF may be less predictable when decay is located between tightly contacting teeth, where the solution cannot easily reach the affected area.

What should parents know? SDF permanently turns the decayed portion of the tooth black. It does not rebuild the missing tooth structure or restore the tooth’s original shape, so a filling or crown may still be needed.

SDF is also not always a one-time treatment. Reapplication may be recommended approximately every six months, depending on your child’s cavity risk, clinical findings, and response to treatment.

At Children’s Dental Health Centre, our pediatric dentists assess each cavity to determine whether SDF is an appropriate option or whether a more definitive restoration would better protect your child’s tooth.

Our goal is to stop decay early, avoid unnecessary discomfort, and choose the safest and most effective treatment for your child’s age and dental needs.

For most restorative work, yes, the tooth is frozen first, and the aim is that they feel pressure but not pain. A topical gel goes on before the injection, so the needle itself is not the part they remember. Tell us beforehand if your child has had a bad experience with freezing. It changes how we approach the appointment.

We believe in clear, transparent pricing with no surprises. Before treatment begins, you will receive a written treatment plan outlining the recommended procedures and their associated costs.

At Children’s Dental Health Centre, we offer direct billing to insurance companies whenever your insurance provider allows it. If you provide your insurance information in advance, our team can also submit a preauthorization to help estimate your insurance coverage and any out-of-pocket expenses before treatment.

Every insurance company works differently. Some allow direct billing and electronic preauthorizations, while others require paper submissions or communicate coverage details directly to the policyholder. Certain insurers may acknowledge a preauthorization request but only disclose the approved benefits and your portion of the cost to you, as the subscriber.

Our team will help you navigate the insurance process, explain what information is available, and provide an estimate of your financial responsibility so you can make an informed decision about your child’s dental care.

Our goal is simple: helping you understand your treatment options, insurance benefits, and expected costs before proceeding with care.

Sometimes. It depends on how much there is, how your child copes and which teeth are involved. If there is a lot to do, spreading it over visits is often kinder than one long stretch in the chair. And if your child cannot manage several visits, doing everything in one session under general anesthesia at our surgical centre is usually the better answer.

No referral is needed. You can book an appointment directly with Children’s Dental Health Centre at either of our Calgary locations.

Our pediatric dentists provide specialized care for children of all ages, from routine checkups and fillings to more complex dental treatment.

We also welcome referrals from general dentists for children who may benefit from specialized pediatric dental care, including those with extensive cavities, dental anxiety, behavioural challenges, or additional medical needs. Families establishing ongoing care with us join through our Preventive Dental Care Program.